Re: Re: article from msnbc.com

[Guest guest]

I do believe that the brain changes that are characteristic of

Alzheimer's disease are observed in studies of fetal brains (post

mortem) of fetuses with DS...... are probably every age in between. That

research (if I remember correctly) is quite old, so the current study

isn't all that informative. It seems like the characteristic physical

changes are definitely associated with trisomy 21. But, it is

interesting because although there are the physical changes we currently

associate with Alzheimer's observed, the actual incidence of the disease

is much less. It will be up to the researchers to figure out what this

means. What I interpret from this is that there are other factors that

contribute to Alzheimer's, in addition to the physical changes,

otherwise everyone with DS would also have Alzheimers, and we know that

isn't true. Certainly this will help researchers to understand the

mechanisms behind the development of Alzheimers, and hopeful understand

some of the neuro issues with DS.

Scientific research is best reported in peer-reviewed journals, not the

popular media.... they tend to get it " sorta " right, but sometimes the

subtle changes in language change the whole meaning of the reported

data. Just me 2 cents.

, mom to (10), (8 DS), and Sammy (6)

wglomb wrote:

> I believe the accurate statement would be, " Studies of the brains of

> people with Down syndrome reveal that, by the age of 40, almost all

> develop the brain changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. "

>

> This does not mean that most people with Down syndrome actually have

> Alzheimer's disease by age 40. The actual incidence of the disease

> is much lower, only about 10% in people with Down syndrome over the

> age of 65, which is about four times greater than the general

> population.

>

> Note the " studies of brains " are post mortem, i.e. they are based on

> a population of individuals who died by the age of 40 years. There

> was a time when the life expectancy for individuals with Down

> syndrome was less than 40 years, but today it is much longer.

> Likewise, I believe, we should question the validity of horizontal

> studies of today's aging population in forecasting the likelihood of

> disease in our children when they are older.

>

>

> >

> > This is the main problem I had with this article. I have a hard

> time believing " most " . Not most of the adults I have met.

> > Sharon

> > Re: article from msnbc.com

> >

> >

> > Most people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease by

> the age of 40.

> >

> > MOST???? Is this true?

> >

> >